San Jose: Eight face felony charges in fraudulent moving company case

SAN JOSE -- Eight people face felony theft and fraud charges in a case involving a company that used a bait-and-switch tactic to swindle customers who believed they were getting a good deal on moving services, prosecutors said.

The company used a host of names, including ASAP Relocations, America's Best Movers, Champions Movers, Fast Moving Van Lines, Quick Quotes for Moving and Encore Movers.

After a four-year, multiagency investigation, the Santa Clara County District Attorney's Office levied charges against eight company officials and employees on Monday. Prosecutors believe victims number in the hundreds.

According to prosecutor Martha Donohoe, employees would pitch a price and then add in undisclosed fees for packing and packaging supplies that would often double or triple the bill.

If a customer balked at paying the extra costs, the movers would threaten to take their possessions and put them in storage, which would also result in additional fees.

"Consumers should carefully check out moving companies before they schedule a moving date," Donohoe said in a statement. "Check the company's registration, search Better Business Bureau and Yelp ratings, and get an in-home visual estimate in advance of moving day. You can't always tell, but you can lower the odds that you will end up the victim of a shady operation."

Donahue said the unreported cash was used for under-the-table payments to workers, sent to overseas accounts and funded "the luxury lifestyle of the company president and his wife, who bought his and hers Mercedes-Benz."